System of motor control.



H. E. WHITE. SYSTEM Ao1? MOTOR coNTRoL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1908.

` 921,768, Batenteamay 18, 1909.

Fig- 42.

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` Harold E-.Whi e y To all 'whom 'it 'fm1/y concern:

"UNrrun srirrias rnrnnfr orricu.

HAROLD E. WHITE, OF SOMENECTADX, NEW. YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COM- PANY, A yCORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SYSTEM OF MO'IOR CONTROL.

l i Application filed August 3,

Specification of Letters Patent.

isos. 'semi No. 446,515.

Patented May A18, 1909.

vBe it ki'iownfthat l, HAnoLD E. VHfrn, a citizen "fof the United States, residing at; Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, I State of New York, have invented certain vnew and useful Improvements in Systems of .Motor Control, of which the-following is a i specification. A

4'lhe present invention relates to systems.

`of ycontrol for electric motors, and particularly to those systems of control in which the inotor or motorsai'e braked dynamically by proved system of control and its manner of operation -will. be understood from the folconnecting them in a closed circuit through more or less resistance.

. an 'o :power positions, controls a set of switches r iii shown and described comprises two m0- =tors (although, as will be obvious, the sysallycontrolled switches for connecting the y .motors to asource ofcurrent for'eithervdi-i.

. rection. ol" rotation, for regulating the resistance in the motor circuitboth under "power and brak-ing conditions and for prop- 'erly connectingrthe motors in a closed circuit throuzgg'h said resistance for dynamic brakniatic illustration of a system of control .having iiiy invention embodied therein, and

'master switch shownt in Fig. l illustrating VVthe construction of certain contact lingers *and segments.

l tiated',twocompoundwoiindniotorsareshown at M and M2 arranged in parallel and sup- '.l.` he object of my invention yis to provide 'a new and improved system of control o1 thety e in Whichza inaster-switcli, having i and forward and reversebrake and which control' the inotor connections and the amount of resistancein tliemotor circuit both under power and dynamic braking conditions. v l Thepreferred forni of my invention hereteinis equally applicable tov one motor), electrically released mechanical vbrakes therefor, astarting resistance, a plurality of electricing, a master-switch and a cooperating relay being employed for controlling the suitable operation of saidswitches vand said mechanical brakes. K

rl-he Vforni and arrangementof my imlowing' description taken in connection With. the accompanying drawings.

In the drawing, Figure l is ay diagram- Iig. 2 isa detail view of a portion of the "in the particular system of control illus- -illustrationand 2 and a source of control current at Z3- and it, but of course under some conditions the motor and control circuits might the supplied froiii the saine source. Astarting iesistance is shown made up of sections R1, R2, R3 Aand R4, which are short-circuited, respectively, by electrically controlled switches 1, 2, 3 and et. An. electrically controlled line switch L is arranged to connect the motor circuit with the source.; Z1, and the electrically controlled switches'L, L2, L3, L4, L, L, L and L"` serve to connect the armatures A1 and A and the series fieldsF1 and F2 in the proper relation for either direction of rotation and for dynamic braking.' The electrically controlled switch D1 completes t-he connectioir of the motors through the resistance for dynamic braking, and the switch D2 master-switch K controls the opera-tion vof the electrically controlled switches, this iiiaster-switch in the system .shown being,` of the single drum type arranoed for rotation in both directions from oil' position to 'ef- .fect forward and reverse operation of the motors, and also to suitablyv connect the -motors:through lthe resistance for` dynamic brak-ing,in a manner hereinafter described. The motors are shown as prov1ded,'respectively, with brakes Bll and B2 biased to an von position and adapted to be released by the` energization of 4solenoids b1 and b2.'

` Brakes of this character are Well-known, and areaiised particularly in connection with hoists and similar forms of apparatus. Certain .oft-he 4electrically controlled switches, '.wliich'may beof any well-known type, are provided with interlocking' contacts which are'" locatedy 'in the control circuits. The forni= of these auxiliary switches is immaterial, as far as 4my invention is concerned,

and I have shown them as of the well-known type, in which disks mounted upon a rod are moved into and outI of engagement -with fixed contacts, only because this type is especially well adapted for diagrammatic The disks which forni the movable members of the `auxiliary switches are ies shown in some. eases as secured directly to the rods upon which they are supported, while in others they are supported by collars secured to the rods either directly or through small springs which allow a yielding connection with the rods, these arrangements being well-known to those familiar with this art. notching relay 1, of wellknown form, serves to regulate, under the control of the motor current, the rate at which the resistance!controlling switches may close both when the motor is receiving current from the source and when it is acting as a generator for dynamic braking.

A relay Q, having its actuating coil connected in the motor circuit in series with the last section of resistance R* controls contacts which, when the master-switch K is in its off position, complete a maintaining circuit through the two lower contact 'fingers and segments on the master-switch for maintaining the proper switches closed to cause dynamic braking and for holding the brakes B1 and B2 released after the master switch has been thrown to its off position until the motors have come substantially to rest, as will be hereinafter fully eX- plained.

The arrangement of the fingers and segments of the master-switch K will be clear from the drawin All the contact fingers on the master swltch except the upper three make electrical connection with their cooperating segments in both directions of movement of the controller drum. The upper three contact fingers and their coperating segments are so arranofed, however, that in the initial movement of the drum in both forward and reverse directions from off position, electrical connection is not made between them while the drum is moving over the brake positions. However, after the master-switch has been moved either in a forward or 'reverse direction from off position beyond the brake positions, reverse movement of the drum will cause two out of the three upper fingers to electrically engage with their cooperating segments. A simple construction whereby this end may be attained is shown in Fig. 2 in which a portion of the controller drum is shown at k1 and the two upper lingers at a and b. The fingers a and b are composed of resilient leaves of conducting material mounted in metal blocks, which may be secured to a supporting bar as shown. The resilient contact fingers a, Z) and c coperate with segments mounted upon the drum k1, which may be ofthe form best shown in Fig. 2, composed of strips of conducting material 7a2 above which are strips of insulating material k3, the ends of this segment being inclined to the horizontal as shown. WVith this arrangement when the drum is moved in one direction the resilientfingers ride over and engage with the strip of insulating material L, but after the druln has been rotated through all the braking positions and is moved backward toward "05 position. the resilient fingers engage with the under side of the segment and make electrical eontart .with the strip lei. Arrangements ol' this kind are well-known in this art and this particular construction shown forms no part of my invention. The segments which cooperate with the fingers a, b, c, (l, e and f are electrically connected and since the finger d is connected to the source Z3 engagement. of the fingers a, b, 0, r and f' with their cooperating segments results in connecting these fingers to this side of the source. All the segments which cooperate with the fingers g, Zz, t', r and Z both in the "o1i' and the "on positions of the master-switch are electrically connected'together, and since the finger g is connected to the source Z4 engagement of the fingers l1, t', j, /t and Z with their cooperating segments in any position of the masterswitch results in connecting these fingers to the source Z4. The segments which co erate with the fingers m and n in the ofiP position of the master-switch are electrically connected together. The form and arrangement of the fingers and segments of the master-switch will be clear from the diagram to those skilled in this art.

The arrangement of control circuits can best be pointed out in a description of the operation of the system as a whole, which will now be set forth.

As shown, the master-switch K is in the off position, and the motors are at rest and held by the brakes B1 and B2. Under this condition all the electrically controlled switches are open, as shown, and the contacts controlled by the relay Q are open. Let us assume that the motors are to be operated in a direction corresponding to the forward movement of the master-switch K.' As the drum of the master-switch is rotated to bring that half of it marked Forward into engagement with the Contact fingers it passes successivel through the positions marked Brake. uring this movement, and in fact in all the on positions of the master-switch, both forward and reverse, the fingers d and f engage with their coperating segments. This means that the finger f in all on positions of the master-switch is connected to the source Z3, the effect of which is to complete a circuit from the source Z4, vthrough the releasing coils of the brakes B1 and B2 to the source Z3, thereby insuring that the brakes are released whenever the master-switch is in an on position.- Since, during the forward movement of the master-switch through the brake positions 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1, the fingers a and c ride over the insulated portion of their cooperating segments, no control circuits are l to the uosition O thegelectrically controlled energized during this movement of the mas ter-switch and none ot' theelectrically controlledswitchcs are closed. During morenient oflthe master-switch in an on direcJ tion-through the 'brake positions, therefore, and eveni-nfthe positions 0, called a coasting position, for reasons hereinafter eX- plained, lthe motor circuit is not completed Valthough the brakes are released. When the 'masterfswitch is moved in the` forward direction to the first 4power position, the fingers 0,6, y and Z come into engagement. with their coperating segments. The eifect of this, as may easilybe traced on the diagram, isto complete circuits from the source Z'V and Z4, through the actuating coils of the relectrically controlled switches L, L1, L2, L'"4 and L1, which'in closing connect the armature A1 and series field F1 of the motor M1'in parallel with the armature A2 and the rseries -field 1F12 of the motor M2, and both in series with all of the resistance R1, R2,

R3, andy R1 and across the source Z1 and Z2. TheswitchesL, L1, and L3 1n closing close ytheir upper auxiliary switches and open theirlower ones, as -Will be apparent from N theI diagram. When the master-switch is moved to its second power position the finger 7c comes into engagement with its cooperat-4 ing segment and a circuit 1s completed through "the actuating coil of the switch l,A

through the lower auxiliary switch of the switch 1, througl'i the upper auxiliary switch .of the switch L and through the actuating u j coil and contacts ofthe notching relay P to rthe source Z1, or if the relay Q has pulled up, `as is likely, a circuit is also completed through its contacts and the linger f on the master-switch tothe source Z2. The switch il, therefore, closes-and short-circuits the section of resistance R1. The switch` 1 in closing cldses its middle, opens its lower and closes its upper auxiliary switches, therebyshifting its actuating coil from the circuit through thenotching relay 'P to a circuit V through-the finger j' to the source Z3, and by Lits upper auxiliary switch connecting the actuating coil of the switch -2 to the circuit ithrough the notching relay P. Movement of the master-switch forward through the third, fourth and fifth' owervpositions re- ,positions, therefore, the switches l, 2, l and 4 are controlled and the amountof resistance in the motor circuit regulated, thereby controlling the speed -of the motors.

lf at anytime theinaster-switch is moved coperating segments.

'I tions.

switches all' open arl the motors are dist-,onneawd tl'rom the source and are free to roast. the brakes B1 vand B2 being held released in this position of the master-switch as shore explained.

lf the master-switch is moved backward from the coasting position .O to 'the first forward brake position the fingers a, c, g and malte electrical connection with their Under this condition, as will. be evident from the diagram, circuits are completed from the source Z2 and Z* through the actuating coils D1, D2, L5, L, LT and LS, therebycausing these switches to close. Closing of these switchesresults in reversing Vthe relation of the armature- A1 to its series field F and the relation of the armature A2 to its series field F2 and in connecting the armature and series eld of the motor M1 in parallel to the armature and series field of the motor M2 in a closed circuit through all of the resistance R1, R2, R2 and R4, the switch D2 serving to complete an equalizing connection between the motors M1 andM2, an expedient well-known to thos familialwith the parallel operation of electric motors. Under this condition the motors will :act as generators driven by the load or by the inertia of lthe moving parts and will send current through the rethe notching relay P in the same man-ner as when the master-switch is in its power posi- The switch D1- closing closes its upper auxiliary` switch which completes the yactuating circnifoi'f'th operating coils of the switches 1,- 2, 3 ande through the actuatinO coil and contacts of the notching relay in the same manner as does the switch L whenthe'lmaster-switch is in the power positions. vThe switches L"',D2 and LT by their upper auxiliary switches connect their respective actuating coils to a circuit which leads to the lin er n on the master-switch, as will be clear from the diagram. As long as the master-switch is in a brake position the brakes B1 and- B2 will be maintained released and the motors will be connected for dynamic braking in a closed circuit through more or less of the resistance. During dynamic braking and power operation the relay Q. will hold its contacts closed as long as the current in the motor circuit exceeds a-certain value or until the switch l closes and short circuits thc resistance R4 and the actuating coil of the relay Q, \Vl1ile, however, the master-switch is in a brake position, or in a power position, the circuit through the contacts of the relay Q1 serves no useful purpose. If, however, the masterswitch is thrown quickly from a i forward ,csition back through its brake iositions l D to its oli position, the circuit through t'he ctmtacts of the relay Q and through the lingers m and n and their cooperating segments becomes useful as a maintaining circuit for the switches Dl, l, 2, 3, Ll, L", L, D2, LT, L* and the releasing coils of the brakes B1 and B2, as will be clear from the diagran'i. The relay Q will maintain this circuit complete until the current in the motor cirt-uit becomes less than a certain value. or until the last section of resistance lt" has' been short-circuited by the. closing of the switch a. -When either ot' the two last named conditions occur the relay Q, drops, 'the brakes B1 and B2 are applied and the switches controlling the motor circuit open. lfrom this it will be apparent that the operator can throw his master-switch from a v coastiiw to an onl oosition and cause the motors to brake dynamically and be linally brought to rest and held by the brakes B1 and B2. In practice it. is easy to design the system so that by the time the last section of resistance R* has been short-circuited during the dynamic braking, the motors will have come substantially to rest and the brakes B1 and B2 will have to do little more than hold them. The arrangement is such, however, that it for any reason the connections for dynamic braking are interrupted, (as by failure of current ,in the control circuits allowing the switches to open) the mechanical brakes will be at once applied and will bring the motors to rest.

Although I have described the operation of the system shown, only for forward manipulation of the master-switch, it will be obvious that the system will operate in a similar manner when the master-switch is turned in the reverse direction.

' "Vhile have shown but one arrangement in which my invention may be embodied, I do not wish to be understood as limiting it thereto except as called for by the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a system of motor control, a motor, a start-ing resistance therefor, a controller for connecting said motor to a Isource of current; for either direction of rotation, for regulating the` amount of resistance in the motor circuit and for short-circuiting said motor through said resistance-for 'dynamic'i braking, a master-switch for controlling the operation otv sa1d controller having" forward and reverse power and braking positions, and means for maintaining said l controller in the braking condition after the master switch has been thrown to oil position until the motor has come substantially to rest; i

In a system of motor control, a motor,

a starting resistance therefor, a plurality of electrically controlled switches for counecting said motor to a source of current for either direction ot' rotation, for regulating the amount ot' resistance in the motor circuit and lfor short-circuiting saidmotor through said resistance for dynamic braking, a master switch having torwardand rei erse7 power and braking positions l'or controlling said electrically controlled switches, and means for maintaining said electrically controlledswitches in the braking condition when said master switch is thrown to btt position, until the motor has come substantially to rest.

ln a system of motor control, a motor, a starting resistance therefor, a plurality of electrically,controlled switches for connecting said motor to a source oil current for either direction of rotation, for regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit and for shortcircuiting said motor through said resistance for Adynamic braking, a master switch for controlling the operation of said electrically controlled switches having forward and reverse braking, coasting and power positions, and means for completing a maintaining circuit for said electrically controlled switches in the olf position of the master switch which will hold the electrically controlled switches in the braking condition forthe then existing v circuiting the-motor through said resistance for dynamic braking, a master switch for controlling the operation of said electrically controlled switches having forward braking, coasting. and powerpositions and reverse braking, coasting and power positions, the master lswitch being elective in i its braking positions onlyvv after it has first been turned to itsfcoasting -or power positions for that direction of rotation, and means for maintaining said electrically controlled switches in thev braking condition after the master switch has been returned to the off position from a coasting or power position through the braking positions, until the motor has come substantially to rest.

5. In a system of motor control, a motor, a starting resistance therefor, a controller comprising a plurality ot electrically controlled switches for connecting said motor to a source of current for either direction of rotation, for regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit and for shortcircuiting the motor through a resistance for izo dynamic braking, a master switch for controlling the operation ot' said electrically controlled switches having forward braking, coasting and power positions and reversey braking, coasting and power positions. and a relay energized from the motor circuit for completing a maintaining circuit for said electrically'. controlled switches in the ottI position of the controller which will hold the electrically controlled switches in the braking condition for the then existing direction of rotation of the motor, until the motor has come substantially to rest.

(i. In a system of motor control, a motor, a starting resistance therefor, a controller comprising.a plurality of electrically controlled switches for connecting said motor to a source of current for either direction of rotation, for regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit and for short.- circuiting the lnotor through a resistance for dynamic braking, a inaster switch for controlling the operation of said electrically controlled switches comprising a'set.- of fixed contact lingers and a drum cooperating therewith capable of rotation in either direction from olf posit-ion to give forward lu'aking, coasting and power positions and reverse braking, coasting and powerpositions. and a relay energized from the motor circuit lorcompleting `a maintaining circuit for said electrically controllcd switches in the ot position of the master switch which will hold the. electrically controlledswitches in the braking condition for thethen existing direction of rotation of the motor, until the motor has come substantially to rest.

T rln a system of motor control. a motor, a, starting resistance therefor, a controller comprising a. plurality of electricallyy controlled switches for connecting said motor to a source of current for either direction v of rotation, foi-regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit. and for shortcircuiting the motor through a resistance for dynamic braking. a master switch for controlling the operation of said electrically controlled switches ha ving forward i braking, coasting and power positions and reverse braking, coasting and power positions, and a relay energized from the motor circuit. and arral'iged vto be denergized When the last. section of resistance is cut out, -for completing a maintaining circuit for said electrically controlled switches in the ott position of the master switch which will hold the electrically controlled switches in the braking condition for the then existing direction of rotation of the motor until the last section of resistance is cut out.

S. In a system of motor control. a motor, a starting resistance therefor. a' controller comprising a plurality of electrically controlled switches for connecting said motor tions,

to a source of currentfor either direction of rotation, for regulating the amount of resistance in the motor circuit. and for shortcircniting the motor through a resistance for dynamic braking, a master switch for controlling the operation of said electrically controlled switches haring forward braking, coasting vand power positions and reverse" braking, coasting and power posithe switch being effective in its braking positions only after it has first been turned to its coasting or power positions for that direction of rotation, and a relay energized from the motor circuit, and arranged to be denergized when the last section of resist-ance is cut ont, for completing a maintaining circuit for said electrically controlled switches in the oli f position of the master switch which will hold the electrically controlled switches in the braking condition for the then existing direction of rotationl of the motor until the last section of resistance is cut out.

9. ln a system of motor control, a motor, a4 starting resistance therefor, a controller for connecting said motor to a source of current for either direction of rotation, for regulatingthe amount of resistance in the inotor`circuit, and for short-circuiting said motor through said resistance for dynamic braking, a master s vitch for controllinof the operation of said controller haringf forward and teverse power and braking positions, an electrically released brake for said niotor. and means for maintaining said controller in the braking condition and for maintaining the electrically controlled brake released after the inasterswitch has been thrown to off position until the motor has come substantially to rest. p l0. ln a system of motor control, a motor, a starting;` resistance therefor, a controller comprisingsa plurality of electrically controlled switches for connecting said motor to a source of current for either direction of rotation, for regulatinor the amount of resistance in the motor circ-uit, and for shortcircuiting said motor through said resistance for dynamic braking, a master switch having forward and reverse power and braking positions for controlling said electrically controlled switches, an electrically c-mtrolled brakefor said motor released when said lnaster switch is in a power or braking position, and means for coinpletingl a maintaining circuit for said electrically controlled switches and for said brake in the oit position of the master switch arranged to hold the electrically controlled switches in the braking condition for the then existing rotation of the motor and to hold said brake released until the motor has come substantially to rest.

l1. ln a system of motor control, a motor, a starting resistance therefor, a controller' cmnprieing a plurality of electrically eenlrolled switches fer connectingsai'd inotor lo a source 0i current for either direction of rotatioin for regulating the amountof resistance in the niotorcircuit, and for shorteireuiting said motor through said resistance for dynan'lie braking, a master switch having' forward and reverse power and braking positions for controlling said electrically mutrellecl switches, an electrically controlled brake for eaid motor arranged to be released When said master switrh is in a pmveror braking position, a relay haring its actuating coil energized freni the meter circuit and arranged t0 be denergized by the closing of one 0f the renistanee eentrulling switehee, and :valuintainingV eireuit controlled by aid relay for maintaining said controller iu a braking onditien and said brakes released when the finaster switch is iu the olf pnsitiun until E the current in the motor circuit ie decreased l to a certain value er the actuating coil et l u i the relay has been deenerg'ized by the closing' of said resistance controlling switch.

In Witness whereof, have hereunto set niy hand this 31st day of July, 190%.

lL'UOLD ll. WHITE.

Witnesses BENJAMIN B. lll-1.1..y HELEN Onronn. 

